DEAR OLD MYRA BRADWELL. I BELIEVE THE WINDOWS AT THE CENTER OF THE FIRST FLOOR ARE THE LIBRARY’S.

I ALWAYS LOVED THOSE TALL WINDOWS LOOKING OUT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD – THEY JUST GAVE YOU A LITTLE LIFT IN THE MORNING, AND AT BRADWELL THEY WEREN’T CONSTANTLY BROKEN AND LEFT HALF REPAIRED AS AT KOZMYNSKI (WHERE THE JANITORS TYPICALLY SWEPT THE GLASS AND PUT A NEW PANE ON THE INSIDE WITH PUTTY, LEAVING THE CRACKED PANES TO COLLECT AS A VIEW).

DO YOU REMEMBER THE TALL HOOKED POLES THAT HUNG IN CLASSROOMS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING THE TOP WINDOW FRAME? TEACHERS TYPICALLY WOULD ASK SOME BOY TO DO THE TASK, AND THE TRUTH IS THAT MOST KIDS LIKE BEING ASKED TO DO THINGS, A FACT OFTEN LOST TODAY.

I’VE SEEN CONTEMPORARY PHOTOS OF BRADWELL, AND OTHER SCHOOLS, AND WHILE SUPERFICIALLY THEY MAY BE SAID TO LOOK THE SAME, ACTUALLY MANY DETAILS HAVE CHANGED.

THE FIRST FLOOR WINDOWS AT BRADWELL TODAY AREN’T THESE LOVELY BIG WINDOWS, THEY ARE DARK SCREEN-LIKE STRUCTURES TO PREVENT BREAKAGE AND VANDALISM.

THE GARDENING AND TREES ARE NOW MISSING TOO. AND THE PLACE HAS BEEN RE-NAMED AS SOME KIND OF ACADEMY, CHICAGO’S FAVORITE TERM FOR FAILED SCHOOLS, USED I GUESS TO FOOL PEOPLE INTO THINKING SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING.

IT’S THE SAME AT SOUTH SHORE HIGH WHICH NOW CONSISTS OF SEVERAL ACADEMIES, AS WELL AS SCHOOLS LIKE BRYN MAWR.

I attended Bradwell in the 60’s, graduating in ’69. The grass is gone now replaced by cement. It seems like only yesterday. We used to play “pinner”, sled down the hills in the winter, play “fast pitching” against the walls, play “in-between” the buldings, climb the fire escape. I miss south shore but I will never forget the great childhood I had growing up there. Thanks for the memories.

My last year there was 1967. Played pinner and fast pitch. I lived at 79th and Escanaba. It was a beautiful world then. A few blocks from Rainbow Beach. White castles at 79th & Essex for 7 cents. Veras candy shop at 79th and Burnham.

I attended Bradwell between 1965 & 1969. Our “playground” was right on the sidewalk in front of the school. We had recess there and I always came to school early so there would be time to play and time to line up. Everyone went home for lunch so when I got back to school, more playing time. The terrace above was where the monitors walked to keep an eye on the kids.